Combination traveling block and swivel connector



Patented June l2, 1951 COMBINATION TRAVELING BLOCK AND S WIVEL CONNECTOR Byron C. Christensen, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application July 14, 1947, Serial No. 760,895

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combination traveling block and swivel connector such as used in the tackle of a rotary drilling rig or the like for handling strings of drill pipe, casing and similar heavy loads, and has for its principal object to provide a device of this character that is of compact and streamlined construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traveling block having a one-piece body provided with removable retaining and spacer plates for rotatably mounting the sheaves and which permit easy insertion and removal of the sheaves.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a combination traveling block and swivel which does not require beckets to couple the traveling block with the swivel; to provide a combination traveling block and swivel with a latch bolt for selectively retaining the swivel body from rotation with respect to the sheave body when desired; and to provide a combination traveling block having an extremely short couple so as to reduce the space required in the derrick of the drilling rig and thereby effect a longer travel within a given height derrick.

It is also an object to provide a traveling block which may be equipped with any desired number of sheaves.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination traveling block and swivel constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevational view of the swivel and, particularly illustrating the latch bolt supporting plate.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a combination traveling block and swivel constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a traveling block body 2 that is preferably constructed of a single piece and which has a streamlined shape and a substantially smooth exterior to avoid possibility of the block hanging up on any part of the derrick when the tackle is in operation. The body includes an upper portion 3 of substantially semicylindrical shape with the axis extending horizontally of the longitudinal axis of the body of the block and a lower portion 4 converging from the upper portion to provide a substantially cylindrical socket portion 5. The opposite sides of the `upper portion and `adjacent part of the lower portion have substantially circular openings 6 arranged coaxially with the axis of the upper portion 3 and which register with corresponding openings-'I and 8 in partitions 9 and I0 formed in the body of the block and spaced apart to accommodate a plurality of sheaves. For example, the present structure involves three sheaves -I I, I2 and I3 although a different number may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The openings E are encircled on the exterior sides of the body by annular shoulders I4 to accommodate retaining plates I5, each of which includes `a disk-like body portion I6 slightly crowned on the outer face to conform with the streamlined character of the block body. The disk-like portions of the plates have their peripheries seated within the shoulders I4 and are retained therein by `fastening devices such as cap screws I'I that extend through openings I8 in the retaining plates and into threaded openings I9 arranged in spaced relation about the openings `6. The openings I8 are preferably counterbored at 2U to accommodate heads 2l of the fastening devices so that the swivel devices do not project beyond the outer faces of the retaining plates. The retaining plates are also provided with inwardly extending anges 22 having diameter to seat snugly within the openings 6 for taking the load from the fastening devices.

The center portions of the retaining plates are provided on the inner sides thereof with bosses 23 having openings 24 in the axis of the plates to mount the ends 25 of a shaft -26 for the sheaves Il, i2 and I3.w Mounted in the openings 'I and 8 of the partitions 9 and I 0 are sheave spacing plates 21 and 23 having axial openings 29 for passing the shaft 26. The bosses have recesses 30 on the outer `faces of the plates to inset the ends of the shaft and for containing lubricant iittngs 3l so that they do not project beyond the outer faces of the plates. The ends 25 of the shaft are preferably of reduced diameter to provide shoulders 32 that abut against the bosses of the retaining plates to keep the shaft in position. The sheaves are preferably mounted on antifriction bearings 33 having their inner races mounted on the shaft and their outer races positioned in hubs of the sheaves as will be well understood. The lower portion of the block body has an internally `extending annular rib 34 providng ashoulder 35 in the recess 3,6 `of the socket' transverse pin 38.

end 5. Formed transversely of the rib 34 are reg- Y inwardly extending rib. The partitions 9 and It! extend substantially to the level of the shoulder 35 and are provided with openings 49 to pass the The ends of the pin project into recesses 4| formed in the sides of the block and mount collars 42 that may be threaded thereon or otherwise suitably secured to prevent lateral shifting movement of the pin.

43 designates the swivel element of the tackle block which is shown as comprising a cylindrical body 44 having a reduced cylindrical portion 45 adapted to turn within the swivel socket 36. The cylindrical body 44 has a lower portion of slightly larger diameter and which carries upper pairs of laterally extending ears 46 and 41Y that cooperate with ears 48 projecting from hooks 49 that extend laterally from the swivel bodyat a point below the pairs of ears to attach the bails of an elevator or other load carrying device (not shown). The ears 46 and 41 are spaced from the ears 48 a sufficient distance to vpermit entrance Vof the bails (not shown). The bails are retained in seated position on the hooks by links 58 having upper ends 5| engaged between the ears 46 and 41 which are pivotally connected therewith by pivot pins 52. The lower ends of the links have yoke-shaped terminals 53 that are provided with pairs of ears 54 and 55 engaging the respective sides of the ears 48. The linksare secured in bail retaining position by pins 56. Y

Suspended from the transverse pin 38 is a stem or shank 51 having nat sides 58 and 59 on opposite diametric sides thereof. The upper end of the stem or shank is suitably notched as at 68 and 6| to accommodate the partitions 9 and I8 and the shank has openings to pass the pin. Slidably mounted on the stem is a spring seat cup member 62 that is freely mounted in the upper portion of the swivel member. The spring seat cup includes a head 53 having sleeve-like bosses 64 and 65 projecting from the respective sides thereof and which have an opening 66 extending axially therethrough and which corresponds in shape to the cross sectional shape ofthe stem as best shown in Fig 3. The periphery of the portion 62 has a depending skirt 61 that extends into an enlarged recess 68m the lower portion of the swivel member where it terminates in a flange 69 having a circular series of notches 10 adapted for engagement by a notch mechanism 1| later described.

Seated on the upper face of the head of the spring seat out member and encircling the upper'boss is a lower race 12 of a thrust bearing 13, the upper race 14 of which is seated against an annular shoulder 15 that is formed in the upper end of the swivel member as best shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the stem has a reduced extension 16 for rotatably mounting a spring seat 11 having an annular Iiange 18 on its lower end which is provided with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 19. The seat member has a counterbore 89 for accommodating an antifriction bearing 8| which is retained therein by a nut 82 threaded on the end of the extension 16. Sleeved on the stem is a coil spring 83 having its upper end engaging in the socket of the upper spring seat member and its lower end engaging the shoulder-19 whereby the swivel member is yieldably supported for sliding movement ,4 on the stem to resiliently cushion shocks Vapplied to the Vtackle mechanism.

The latch mechanism 1| is mounted on a plate 84 that is inserted in a recessed opening 85 in the side of the swivel member and which has a projecting boss 86 on its inner face. Slidably mounted in a vertical bore 88 of the boss is a bolt-type plunger 81 that is adapted to engage in one of the notches 19. The lowerV end of the bore is counterbored to accommodate a, spring 88 that is sleeved on a reduced extension 89 of the bolt and which has its upper end engaging against the bottom of the counterbore and its other end engaging against a head 92 on the boltl extension so that the spring normally retains the boltin retracted position and out of engagement with the notches 18 of the cupshaped spring seat. In order to retain the bolt in its latch position against action of the spring 88, the outer side of the boss has a longitudinal slot 93 in which is slidably mounted a pin 94 that projects laterally from the body of the bolt and which is adapted to be engaged in a lateral notchY 95 at the side of the slot. VThe pin 94 projects into a recess portion 96 at the side of the slot. The pin 94 projects into a recess portion 98 of the plate 84 so as to permitlgrasping thereof for manipulation of the bolt. The open lower end of the swivel member is preferably enclosed by a cap plate 91 that is retained inrposition by suitable fastening devices such as cap screws 98. Y Y Y The body of the block is provided with suitable vopenings 99 at the respective sides thereof for passing the tacke cable |98. .To facilitate reeving of the cable around the sheaves, the sides of the body of the blockvare provided at a point below the sheaves with handhelds that are closed by plates |9| suitably attached over the openings afterthe cable |98has been reeved around the sheaves.

In assembling the combination traveling blockand swivel constructed as described, the-sheaves Il, Yi2 and i3 and spacingplates 21 and 28 are mounted on the shaft 26 in proper order and the assembly is moved into position through one' of the side openings 5 so that the spacing plates 25' and 28 are seated in the openings-1 and 8 `of the the shaft 26. The retaining plates then are secured by insertion of the fastening devicesA i1. If desired, a suitable key |92 may be employed at one end of the shaft to prevent relative rotation of theshaft within the body ofV the traveling block. Pins |83 may also be used to prevent turning of the spacing plates 1 and 8.

The cup-shaped spring seat 92 is then sleeved over the notched end'ofthe `stem 5'! and the anti-friction thrust bearing 13 applied to the upper boss 84. rlhis portion of the assembly is then inserted through the open lower end of the swivel member and the upper cylindrical portion thereof is projected within the recess 99- of the traveling block body to bring thel openings in the stem in registry with the openings 48 so thatthe pin 38may be passed therethrough to form the coupling between the swivel member and block body, the pin being retained by application of the collars 42. The spring 83 is then sleeved over the stem so that the upper end seats. against the part 68 of the upper spring seat, after which the lower spring seat 11 is applied to the stem extension 16 followed by the thrust bearing 8i and ths retaining nut 82., The closure cap Sl is then applied to complete the assembly.

In reeving the sheaves, the plates lill are re moved so that the tackle cable Illl may be passed around the sheaves and through the openings Si). The hails oi an elevator (not shown) are applied to the hooks by passing them through the gaps between the ears dii and after which the gaps are closed by the links which are retained in position upon insertion of pins iii. and t.

When the tackle is in operation the load on the swivel. member tft is carried by the cross pin 38 through the resilient action of the `spring The swivel member de may rotate about the axis of the stem el upon the thrust bearing i3 avoid lany twisting tendency of the tackle cable iii-li. During the swiveling action the lower spring seat member' turns freelyon the bearing 8S. Ii desired, the swivel member fili may be locked from swiveling movement by moving the latch boit Si in position to engage one oi' the notches 'lll of the upper spring seat. The bolt is locked in position by shifting the pin St into the notch 95.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a combination tackle block and swivel connection which is of compact and streamlined construction and which has an extremely short coupling between the tackle block and swivel. elements due to the structure which permits elimination of the customary beckets. It is also obvious that I have provided a one-piece traveling block body which permits easy insertion and removal or the sheave pulleys which may be of a number to provide the desired number of lines in the tackle with which the tackle block is used` It is further obvious that the sheaves are rigidly supported within the block to adequately support heavy loads to be carried by the swivel member.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described including a traveling block body, a swivel body, one of said bodies having a socket and the other a cylindrical neck slidably and rotatably engaged in said socket, a stem, means connecting the stem with one of said bodies, a spring seat member slidable on the stem, a spring seat member having fixed rotatable support on the stern, a compression spring between said seat members, and a thrust bearing between the slide-ble spring seat and the body that is not connected with the stem by said connecting means.

2. A device of the character described includ- I ing a traveling block body, a swivel body, one of said bodies having a socket and the other a cylindrical neck slidably and rotatably engaged in said socket, a stem, means connecting the stem with one of said bodies, a spring seat member slidable on the stem, a spring seat member having fixed rotatable support on the stem, a compression spring between said seat members, a thrust bearing between the slidable spring seat member and the body that is not connected with the stem by said connecting means, and latch means carried by one of said bodies for selectively retaining the bodies from relative rotation.

3. A device of the character described including a traveling block body having a socket at one end and a semi-cylindrical top at the other with the axis of said top arranged transversely to the axis of said socket and with the sides of said body sloping to the socket end for forming cylindrical neck sldably and rotatably engaged .in said socket, a stem coaxially located within said neck, a transverse pin connecting the stem with the traveling block body, a non-rotatable spring seat member slidable on the stem, a spring seat member having lxed rotatable support on the stem, a compression spring between said seat members, and a thrust bearing between the slidable spring seat member and a shoulder in Said cylindrical neck.

4. A device of the character described including a traveling block body having a swivel socket, a swivel body having a cylindrical neck rotatable and slidable in said socket, a stem extending l.through the socket into the traveling block body,

means carried by the traveling block and extending through the stem for connecting the stem with the traveling block body, a spring seat member slidable on the stem within the swivel body, a thrust bearing between the spring seat member and the swivel body, a spring seat member having fixed support on the stern, and a cornpressionspring between said spring seat members for yieldingly retaining the cylindrical neck of the swivel body within said socket of the traveling block body.

5. A device of the character described including a traveling block body having a swivel socket,

-a swivel body having a cylindrical neck rotatable and slidable in said socket, a stem, means connecting the stem with the traveling block body, a spring seat member having non-rotatable sliding support on the stem within the swivel body, a thrust bearing between the spring seat member and the swivel body, a spring seat member having xed rotatable support on the stem, a compression spring between said members, and latch means carried by the swivel body and adapted to engage a part of said slidable spring seat to selectively retain the swivel body from relative rotation.

6. A device of the character described including a hollow traveling block body having openings on opposite sides, spaced partitions within said body and having openings registering with said side openings, sheave spacing members mounted in the openings of said partitions, removable closure members for said side openings, a shaft having ends supported by the closure members and extending through said spacing members, sheaves mounted on said shaft, fastening means for securing the closure members to the traveling block body, a stem, means connecting the stem with said partitions, and a swivel body on said stem.

7. A device of the character described :including a hollow traveling block body having openings on opposite sides, spaced partitions within said body and having openings registering with said side openings, sheave spacing members mounted in the openings of said partitions, removable closure members for said side openings, a shaft having ends supported by the closure members and extending through said spacing members, sheaves mounted on said shaft, fastening means for securing the closure members to the traveling block body, a stem, means connecting the stem with said partitions, a swivel body on said stem, a non-rotatable spring seat slidable on said stem, a xed spring seat on the stem, a compression spring on the stem and having ends engaging the respective spring seats, and a bearing between the slidable spring seat and said swivel body.

8. A device of the character described including a hollow traveling block body, spaced partitions within said body and spaced inwardly of the sides of said bodyto provid` sheave compartments therebetween, sheaves in said comp'artments, a shaft extending through the partitions and having support within said body for rotatably mounting said sheaves in their respective compartments, said traveling block body having'a swivel socket below said partitions, a stem extending coaxially within the swivel socket and having portions interengaged with the partitions, Va pin extending through the interengagingY portions of the stem and said partitions, Va swivel body rotatable in said socket and having slidable and rotatable support on said stem, and a spring yieldingly retaining the swivel body in said socket. l A

9. A device of the character described including a traveling block body having a swivel socket,

va hollow swivel body having a cylindrical neck rotatable and slidable in said socket, a stem xed to and extending from the traveling block body into the swivel body, a spring seat member slidable on the'stem within the swivel body, a thrust bearing between the spring seat member and the swivel body, a spring seat member having xed rotatable support on the stem, a compression spring between said members, and load carrying hooks extending from opposite sides of the swivel body.

,Y BYRON C. CHRISTENSEN.

10 REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 1,536,617 MontgomeryY May 5, 1925 1,725,902 Driscoll Aug.V 27", 1929 1,767,325 Taylor -i June 24, 1930 1,803,721 Minor May 5, 1931 go 2,317,215 Parker et al. Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country Date 452,872 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1936 

